Sash construction



Aug- 27, 1957 D. c. MUEssEL 2,803,857

sAsH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 8, 1954 46j r, ya

4 ,A n W M /4/ IN VEN TOR.

United tates SASH CGNSTRUC'EION Application .lune 8, 1954, Serial No.435,161

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-56.4)

This invention relates to a construction for securing panels and, moreparticularly, to a sash construction for mounting panels of materialssuch as glass in store fronts and the like.

Since the advent of resilient metal sash, particularly for store fronts,in the early part of the century, various types of assemblies have beendeveloped and tried with varying degrees of success. One is theso-called facescrew type in which an outer sash member is applied fromthe exterior of the store front opening and secured by a screw alsoapplied from the exterior. The glass panel can thus be readily removedat will from the exterior and the screw is exposed to view. Another typeis the snap-on type. It also includes an outer sash member applied fromthe exterior and has no exposed screws; but generally this type has notbeen too satisfactory because the securing means was not adequate or wasdifficult to install and in some cases there was nothing to preventremoval of the glass from the exterior. A third type is the inside-setin which the outer sash is applied from the exterior but in whichsecuring and adjusting is done at the interior. This makes it somewhatinconvenient to install.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedsash that has the advantages of the foregoing types but none of theirdisadvantages. It can be readily applied from the exterior; it can bereadily locked from the exterior without the use of tools and, oncelocked, there is no likelihood of the outer sash member from becomingunsecured with resulting damage to the glass; it has no exposed securingmeans; it cannot be released or unlocked from the exterior; and it canbe released only from the interior and by means insertable between theglass and the inner sash member, whereby no openings or the like arerequired in the latter.

in accordance with the foregoing and many other obi jects, oneembodiment of the invention comprises a fixed and inner sash memberhaving a forwardly extending glass or panel engaging part and a partdependent defining a downwardly and inwardly inclined locking element.An outer and movable sash member having a panel engaging portionpositioned opposite to that formed on the inner sash member is locked tothe fixed sash member by a plurality of resilient securing means such asspring clips so that the panel engaging portions on the two sash membersresiliently and firmly engage an interposed panel of material tomaintain it in position.

The spring clip comprises a replicated body having a pair of resilientleg portions mounted on the outer sash member and a locking element withan upwardly and outwardly inclined part which engages the lockingsurface on the xed sash member securely to hold the construction in anassembled condition. The spring clip also includes an upper ilat endportion to facilitate guiding of the clip into interlocking engagementwith the locking element formed by the inner sash member. The springclips are each provided with an intermediate body portion which isengageable by a thin tool inserted adjacent the panel to arent releasethe spring clip. The locking elements of the spring clips are alsoconstructed in a manner insuring that they lock the sash members untilintentionally released so there is no danger of the outer sash member orglass panel falling off.

The locking element associated with the fixed sash member may be formedas a separate element which is later secured to the sash member.Alternatively, it may be formed integrally with the sash member. Alsothe inner sash member may be formed with a groove for receiving aweather sealing strip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the specification together with thefollowing drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional View of a sash constructionembodying the present invention and in which the sash construction isshown in a partially assembled condition;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a completely assembledsash construction;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a spring clip forming a portion of theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing adouble face sash construction having an inner sash member with anintegral locking element; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing adouble face sash construction embodying the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 3 of the drawings, 10 indicates generally asash construction including a fixed and inner sash member' l2 and anouter and movable sash member i4 which are detachably secured togetherwith portions thereof in resilient engagement with a panel of glass 16by a plurality of locking elements such as the spring clips indicatedgenerally as 18. The inner sash member 12 is rigidly secured to asupporting frame structure 19 including a sill 2t) and back stop 21. Thepanel 16 is supported above the bottom of sash member 12 by means of aplurality of setting blocks 191.

ln assembling the panel 16 in the sash construction 10, the panel ismounted on the blocks 191 and held in adjusted position by merely movingthe outer sash member i4 into iirm resilient engagement with the outersurface of the panel 16 thereby producing automatic engagement of thespring clips 13 with locking structure on the xed sash member l2. Todisassemble the construction 10, it is merely necessary to disengage theclips 18 from this locking structure and remove the outer sash member14.

The inner sash member 12 which rests upon a base plate 22 is providedwith a depending ange 24 for engaging one surface of the panel 16. Theflange 24 is of sufficient length that, when the panel 16 is` pressedinto engagement therewith, the engaged surfaces thereof form asubstantially water impervious seal thereby to prevent moisture such asthat produced by the condensation of vapors in the air from entering thehollow defined by the sash construction itl. The inner sash member 12 isformed of an integral construction and has no openings on its upper sideso that moisture condensing on the inside of the glass cannot enter thespace enclosed thereby and, accordingly corrosion and discoloration ofthe sash construction i@ is prevented.

The inner sash member is provided with a plurality of locking means 26for engagement by the spring clips. An upper extremity 28 of member 2dengages the inner surface of the depending iiange 24 and extendsupwardly to just below the underside of the top part of the sash member.it thus serves as a backing for flange 24, as a stop for downwardmovement of the top of the sash member i2, and as an abutment to preventoutward movement of the locking element.

Each member 26 has a lower portion 30 provided with an opening 31 fordetachably receiving a locating and holding tongue or lug 33 formedintegral with a lower leg 32 of the member 12. The interlocking of thelug 33 and the opening 31 holds the locking member 26 in a desiredposition during shipping and until such time as thesash member 12, thebase plate- Z2, and the locking member 26 are permanently secured to theframe structure 19 by a plurality of screws 35. An intermediatereplicated portion 34 of the lockingmember 26 extends inwardly anddownwardly to provide a downwardly and rearwardly inclined lockingsurface 36 which engages oppositely formed means on the spring clips 18.The locking member 26- may eitherbe formed in aV plurality of separateelements which are secured at spaced positions within they innerv sashmember 112 by the screws 35 as described or may be formed as a singlecontinuous extrusion or stamping having a length correspondingto thatofthe inner sash memberI 12;

The outer sash member 14 is illustrated as being substantially L-shaped,although other shapes can be' used, and including atV its top side adepending flange 38@ the outer surface of which is moved intoengagementwith thepanel 16 approximately opposite the flange 24, thereby firmly tosecure the panel 16 in` an adjusted position. The flange 38 is made longenough so` that, upon engagingthe outer surface of'the panel 16, theengaged surfaces provide a substantially moisture-tight seal andprevent'theentrance of moisture into the hollowdened by thesashconstruction 10. The lowerend of theV outer sash member 14 isprovided with a return bend 40 defining asubstantiallyU-shaped channel42.

The plurality of spring clips or resilient locking members 18 areadjustably mounted on the outer'sash member 14by means of a pair of legs44 having downwardly projecting llanges-46 received-within the channel42 and by-means-ofV an" arcuate arm 48, extending upwardlybetween'andfromv underneath the legs 44 soV that its upper end engagesthe inner surface of the depending flange 38; TheV spring clips 18 areslidably mounted within the outer sash member 14, so that they may beeasily moved into alignment-with the locking members 26 which aresecured in predetermined positions within the inner sash member 12. Y

The spring clip 18, whichis formed ofv spring steel or a similarresilient material, comprises a generally replicated body havingoneendthereof bifurcated to provide the two resilient legs 44. The otherendv of the clip 18- is folded over tor provide the arcuate slightlyhollow arm 48 havi'ng'a central strengthening rib 50. Each ofthe`resilient legs 44isf also provided with a strengthening rib' oppositelyformed surface 36 on the locking member 26' when the sash constructionis in the assembled position' shown-in Fig. 2 to prevent the outer sashmember 14 from being moved away from the inner sash member 1`2'and to`hold the flanges 24 and 33 in resilient engagement with the. panel' 161The intermediate portion of the clip also includes a substantiallyhorizontal or flat top wall portion 60 integrally connected to legs 44through wall portion 54 and to arm 48. The wallportion 6ft engages thelower en d of the replicated portion 34 to facilitate assembly of thesash during which the spring clip 18 is deflected. somewhat to permitthe locking surfaces 36 and 56 to be. moved into engagement. The wallportion also strengthens the locking element and the resultingarrangement provides an adequate locking with sufficient resilience topermit ready installation.

When it is desired to assemble the panel 16 in the sash constructionv10,y the panel is placed on the setting blocks.

19 with the inner surface thereof in engagement with the flange 24 onthe inner sash member 12. The spring clips 18 are moved into positionson the outer sash member 14 in alignment with the locking members 26secured to the inner sash member 12. Thereafter, the outer sash member14 is moved toward the inner sash member 12 Vto move the flange 38 intoengagement with the outer surface of the panel 16 and to move the walls60 into engagement with the lower ends of the replicated portions 34 onthe locking members 26, as illustrated in Fig. l.

The continuing application of pressure to the lower extremity of theouter sash member 14 causes the wall portion 6l) to slide in engagementwith the end of the replicated portion 34, thereby deflecting a portionof the clip in a counterclockwise direction. This deflection of the arm48 results in the application of a resilient force against the panel 16thereby urging this panel into intimate resilient engagement with theflange 24.

Following movement of the wall portions 60 beyond the ends of thereplicated portions 34, the clips- 18 are deflected in acounterclockwise direction by the resilient force produced by thedeflection of the arms 48 so that the inclined surfaces 36 and 56 moveinto the effective locking engagement, as shown in Fig. 2. Since thesesurfaces are inclined away from the direction in which the clips 18 mustbe moved in order to move these surfaces out of engagement, theinterlocking engagement of thereplicated portion 34Y with the Wall 54maintains the inner' sash member 12 and outer sash member 14 in aposition in which the arm 48 resiliently urges the sash member 14 towardthe inner sash member 12 to secure the panel 16.

Further, the lower wall portion of the return bend 40- in the outer sashmember is pressed into intimate engagement with the upper surface of thebase plate 22 by the resilient forces produced by. the distortion of theclip 18 so thatl an effective watertight seal is produced between theouter sash member 14 and the base plateV 22. The resilient engagement ofthe outer and inner surfaces of the panel 16 by the surfaces of theflanges 24 and 38 also form substantially watertight seals so that theinterior of the'sash construction 10 is completely sealed to prevent theentrance of water and water vapor.

When it is desired to disassemble thesash construction 1t), the thinflexible blade of an instrument, such as a putty knife, isinsertedbetween the inner surface of the panel 16'and the'outer surface of theflange 24 and moved downwardly, until theA end of the blade engages theupper surface of'a substantially horizontalwall 62 ofthe clip 18.Thereafter, the application ofv force tol the instrument displaces theclip 18'so that the wall 54 moves out of engagement with thereplicated'portion 34, thereby disengaging the` removable sash member 14from the fixed sash member 12.

Referring nowto Fig; 4 of the drawingsthere is shown a secondembodimentof the invention forming a double face sash construction indicatedgenerally as 70 which includes a fixed or inner sash member 72 and amovable or outer sash member 75. The two sash members 72 and; 75 aredetachably secured together in engagement with apanel of glass 74 bymeans ofa plurality of spring clips 76. The sash construction 70 isadapted to be mounted* on a flat supportingY surface 78 rather than anangular supporting surface, such as the supporting frame 19, and,accordingly, it is necessary to lnodify the structure of the fixed sashmember 72 so as to provide a pleasing, appearance when the construction70 is viewed from either side ofthe panel 74.

Moreparticularly, the.sashconstructionsltl and 70 Vare identical withthe exception of the structure of the fixed saslimernber 72. Onefeature. characterizing the sash member. 72 is` the. provision ofintegraldetent or locking means .formed by a downwardly and inwardlyinclined wall, 80 which formsv a locking surface 82.'. similar infunction to the surface 36 in the sash construction 10. The wall 80 isjoined to the fixed sash member 72 by a depending flange 84 whichengages the panel of glass 74 in the same manner as the depending ange24 in the construction 10. The use of the integral locking portion 80reduces the cost of the sash construction 70 by obviating the need for aplurality of separately formed locking members, similar to the members26, and also the need for accurately locating these locking members inpredetermined positions relative to the fixed sash member 72.

Since the construction 70 is adapted to be mounted on a ush supportingframe 78 rather than the angular supporting structure 20, means shouldbe provided for preventing moisture from passing between the sashconstruction 70 and the frame 78. In order to prevent this passage ofmoisture, a lower leg 86 of the fixed sash member 72 is provided with arib 87 defining a groove which is lled with a weathering strip 88preferably formed of a vinyl plastic. When the fixed sash member 72 issecured to the supporting structure 78 by a plurality of screws 90, thematerial forming the strip 88 is compressed and held in intimateengagement with the upper surface of the supporting structure 78,thereby preventing the passage of moisture between the sash member 72and the supporting structure 78.

The sash construction 70 is assembled in the same manner as the sashconstruction 10 by placing the glass panel 74 on a plurality of spacedsetting blocks 92 and then moving the sash member 75 inwardly toward themember 72, the clips 76 being deflected by the ends of the walls 80 andsubsequently snapping back into interlocking engagement with theinclined surfaces 82. The construction 70 is also completely sealed toprevent the entrance of moisture and is disassembled by inserting a thinblade between the panel 74 and the flange 80 to engage and depress aflat wall portion 94 on the clips 76.

A third embodiment of the invention providing a double face sashconstruction indicated generally as 100 (Fig. includes a fixed sashmember 102 and a movable or outer sash member 104 which are detachablysecured together and held in resilient engagement with an interposedpanel of glass 106 by a plurality of spring clips 108. The construction100 is similar to the detachable sash construction but is adapted to bemounted on a fiat supporting frame 110 to provide a pleasing appearancewhen viewed from either side of the panel 106. Also, the construction100 is of greater width than the constructions 10 and 70 for use inapplications where it is necessary to provide an appearance of greaterdepth in order to maintain a uniformity of appearance consistent withsurrounding structures.

The fixed sash member 102, which is quite similar to the xed sash member12, supports a plurality of spaced setting blocks 111 on which the loweredge of the panel 106 rests with one surface of the panel in engagementwith a depending flange 112 formed integral with the sash member 102. lnorder to provide a moistureproof seal, a lower leg 114 of the member 102is provided with a raised portion or rib 116 deiining a groove 118within which is positioned a weathering strip 120 preferably formed ofvinyl plastic. When the fixed sash member 102 is secured to thesupporting structure 110 by a plurality of screws 122, the plasticmaterial 120 is compressed and forms a watertight seal to preventmoisture from passing between the sash construction 100 and thesupporting frame 110.

To provide locking means for engaging the spring clips 108, which areidentical to the clips 18, a plurality of locking members 124 similar tothe locking members 26 are mounted on the sash member 102 and the frame110 by the screws 122. A downwardly and inwardly extending replicatedportion 126 defines a locking surface 128 which is engaged by oppositelyformed locking surfaces on the spring clips 100.

in order to prevent the locking members 124 from being displaced to theright as shown in Fig. 5 when the clips 108 are moved into engagementtherewith, a lower rounded portion 132 of the member 124 engages a likeformed arcuate portion of the rib 116. Accordingly, the rib 116 not onlyforms a groove 118 within which the weathering strip 120 is received butalso provides a stop engaging the` locking member 124 additionally toprevent` displacement thereof.

The movable sash member 104 includes a depending panel engaging flange134 which is urged into engagement with one surface of the panel 106 bya resilient arm 136 formed integral with the spring clip 108. The otherend of the spring clip 108 is bifurcated to form a pair of resilientlegs 138 having anges 140 which are received within a channel formed bya U-shaped end portion 142 on the movable sash member 104. The endportion 142 is joined to a lower leg 144 of the sash member 104 by anangularly formed portion 146.

The double face sash construction achieves all of the advantagesprovided by the sash constructions 10 and 70 and, in addition, forms awatertight sash construction adapted to be mounted on a ush surfacewhich presents a pleasing appearance when viewed from either side of thepanel 106. Also, by the provision of the dual function rib 116, meansare provided both for preventing the passage of moisture between theconstruction 100 and the supporting frame and for improving the rigidityof the fixed sash construction 102 by providing additional securingmeans for the locking members 124. The construction 100 is assembled inthe same manner as the constructions 10 and 70 and is disassembled byengaging and moving a flat wall of the clip 108 with a thin bladedinstrument inserted between the panel 106 and the flange 112.

Accordingly, the sash constructions 10, 70l and 100 provide quickly andeasily assembled means for securing a panel in a predetermined positionwithout requiring the use of manually operated fastening devices.Assembly is facilitated by the particular construction of the lockingmeans and the latter is also constructed so as to provide a veryadequate locking of the outer sash and panel. Further, since they can bedisassembled by merely inserting a tool adjacent a surface of the panel,thereby obviating the need for any openings, these sash constructionsare substantially moisture-tight to thereby prevent corrosion of themetallic parts thereof and discoloration of both the sash constructionand the adjacent supporting structure.

While the present invention has been described in connection with thedetails of several specific embodiments of the invention, it should beunderstood that these details are not intended to be a limitation of theinvention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

A sash construction for mounting a panel comprising a irst sash memberhaving a bottom portion, an upstanding rear wall portion, a forwardlyextending top portion and a downwardly extending panel engaging ange atthe front of said top portion, a locking member xedly mounted in saidsash member having bottom and rear wall portions engaging the bottom andrear wall portions of said sash member, said locking member having aportion extending outwardly from the rear Wall portion some distancebelow the top portion of the sash member, a downwardly and rearwardlyinclined reversely bent locking element at the front of the saidextending portion of the locking member, said reversely bent lockingelement having a portion extending upwardly to substantially back ofsaid panel engaging flange, a second sash member having a panel engagingange thereon and a bottom wall portion formed with a longitudinalchannel, said second sash member carrying a plurality of resilientlocking means; each of said resilient locking means comprising areplicated element having oppositely extending legsoneN of which isinsertedlwithin said-channel and the other of whichwab'uts the. panelengaging flange ofy saiding upwardly from said body portionand-beingvinclinedl forwardly in order toengage said reverselyYbentlocking element, thereby to y-hold saidrst and second sash mem-fbers in assembly.

References VCited in the lile ofi this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBristow r-- Nov. 31942r Peterson I une 8, 1943 Ketchum, Jr. Oct. 21,1952v

